Shipping Dangerous Goods and Hazardous Materials

Shipping Dangerous Goods and Hazardous Materials

Due to the strict and complex regulations of the US Department of Transportation (DOT), and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), UGA Enivronmental Safety provides assistance to all UGA associated personnel involved in the shipment of hazardous materials/dangerous goods. Anyone who knowingly violates any of the federal hazardous material transportation laws can be fined, imprisoned, or both.

The University of Georgia has trained personnel to assist in all activities involving the shipping of dangerous goods/hazardous materials. For assistance in shipping any hazardous materials contact the ESD Hazardous Materials Program at (706) 542-5801 or hazmat@uga.edu. For assistance in shipping any materials involving biological agents or infectious substances contact the Office of Biosafety at (706) 542-2697. Please contact ESD or Biosafety at least one full week prior to your intended ship date.

Below are some common examples of items that meet the classification of dangerous or hazardous. This is not an all-inclusive list.

Shipping Items to a UGA Facility

UGA personnel traveling domestically or internationally and planning on preparing and offering a Dangerous Goods / Hazardous Materials package for shipment back to UGA are required to take an approved online Department of Transportation (DOT) or International Air Transport Association (IATA) training course. Please contact ESD at (706) 542-5801 or hazmat@uga.edu for additional information and assistance prior to traveling.

Shipping Non-hazardous materials on Dry Ice

Dry ice is considered a hazardous material / dangerous good by DOT and IATA due to it being an explosion hazard and suffocation hazard if certain precautions are not taken.

Therefore, training is required to ship samples or other materials on dry ice.  If you want to ship non-pathogenic, non-hazardous materials on dry ice, UGA offers a training on PEP that will satisfy regulatory requirements to do so. Please log into PEP and search “UGA Guide to Shipping with Dry Ice” to locate the course.  Please note that this training is only acceptable if the only hazard in the package is dry ice.  Any flammable materials (including most concentrations of ethanol), corrosive, toxic or pathogenic/biohazardous substances being packed on dry ice will require assistance from UGA Environmental Safety or Office of Biosafety personnel to legally ship.

International Shipping Review

International shipments of dangerous goods or hazardous materials must also be reviewed by the Office of Research Security and Export Control (RSEC). RSEC’s international shipping guidance is available here. Please contact exportcontrols@uga.edu or call 706-542-5933  prior to contacting the ESD Hazardous Materials Program. ESD will confirm any international shipment they review has also been reviewed and approved by RSEC prior to assisting on the shipment.